frank murphy

English - English

Definition of frank murphy in English English dictionary: orig. William Francis Murphy born April 13, 1890, Harbor Beach, Mich., U.S. died July 19, 1949, Detroit, Mich. U.S. Supreme Court justice (1940-49). After serving in World War I, he held several elective posts, including mayor of Detroit (1930-33). He was governor-general (1933-35) and U.S. high commissioner (1935-36) of the Philippines. Elected governor of Michigan (1937-38), he refused to use troops to break sit-down strikes by automobile workers. As U.S. attorney general (1939-40), he established the Justice Department's civil rights unit. Appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, he strongly defended civil rights and dissented in a case upholding the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II

frank murphy